A pair of former Liverpool stars have been included in the 15 nominees shortlisted to enter the Premier League Hall of Fame.
The Premier League Hall of Fame was established at the beginning of the decade to recognise and honour players and managers that have made a significant contribution to the top flight.
Liverpool only have one former player in the Hall of Fame, the legendary Steven Gerrard. The club captain of 12 years was added more than four years ago and his record shows exactly why. He registered 120 goals and 92 assists during his Premier League career and picked up six Player of the Month awards.
The Premier League website stated: “Gerrard inspired his team-mates with surging runs, pinpoint passes, talismanic tackles and spectacular strikes.”
Gerrard could soon be joined by two more ex-players, who have been named on a list of 15 nominees. One of these is Robbie Fowler, who burst onto the scene at Anfield in the ‘90s and later returned for a brief spell ahead of the 2006/07 season.
Other than the fact Fowler grew up as an Everton supporter, his journey into the Liverpool first-team is one of the great stories of a locally trained player fulfilling his childhood dream. Fowler was born in Toxteth, Liverpool, and came through the academy before making his senior debut. He scored 183 goals in 369 appearances for Liverpool.
Like Gerrard, Fowler never won the Premier League with Liverpool. However, he became a two-time winner of the League Cup and lifted the FA Cup, UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
Michael Owen has also been named as a nominee to enter the Premier League Hall of Fame. The striker played alongside Fowler and was Liverpool’s top goalscorer between 1997 and 2004. He is the only Liverpool player to have won the Ballon d’Or and he twice won the Premier League golden boot.
Owen did get his hands on the Premier League trophy in 2011. Unfortunately, he did so whilst playing for Manchester United after leaving Newcastle to join his former rivals.
It could have been a different story for Owen, who could have re-joined Liverpool earlier in his career. However, Real Madrid blocked a potential move and Anfield only ever saw the forward return as an opponent.
Supporters can cast their vote to add two players to the Hall of Fame by visiting the Premier League website.
